A forgotten story about a important visit

Each year, I get the pleasure of getting dusty and sifting through books upon books of old newspapers in search of interesting historical stories.

For me, this is one of the perks of the job. Each historical edition I write articles for the more I learn about Green River’s past.

As I delve into the past, I am surprised at where we’ve been and how far we’ve come. This year, I marveled at how ingenuity and brute force could make something visible from almost every part of town, the twin tunnels. In my opinion, the construction of the twin tunnels would have been a feat to complete today let alone in the 60s, which made that story stand out to me.

Another story I worked on this year was about the Sweetwater County Museum and how it used to be a post office. How fitting is it for a place that teaches residents and visitors about history to be located in a historic building?

Even though those stories were fascinating, one story that impacted me the most, was one I just happened to stumble upon while I was looking for information on the tunnels. It was three stories and a photo page about when Lady Bird Johnson, the wife of the President of the United States Lyndon B. Johnson, came to visit. She was here in 1964 to dedicate the Flaming Gorge Dam and Reservoir. She then made a stop in Green River. This story was huge then and was something I felt needed to be back to light.

It was a major event that I personally haven’t heard people talk about. What impacted me the most, was seeing photos of how packed the event was. One of the photos depicts photographers in one of the trees trying to get a great photo of the First Lady because there was such a mass of people they couldn’t take any photos over the top of them all.

Now, I covered the event at the Sweetwater County Events Complex when President Bill Clinton came to Rock Springs to campaign for his wife, Hillary, and I don’t think it was nearly as big as when First Lady Johnson visited.

Maybe it was because I was in a press only area, but I don’t recall thousands of people being there.

However, I do recall some reporters from Utah’s Fox News Channel 13 coming down because I recognized one of them, but other than that it was just local press and maybe one AP photographer.

Plus, this visit didn’t make national news like First Lady Johnson’s did. This led my mind to wonder what it would be like to have CNN, FOX News, MSNBC, AP and the BBC all here in this small community working on the same story.

That’s basically what happened when First Lady Johnson visited. It must have been a local reporter’s dream to cover that event. I know I would have loved to. I enjoyed covering President Clinton’s visit, but I still think First Lady Johnson’s would have been better.

Why?

First Lady Johnson just didn’t come by, give a speech and leave. No. She was escorted in by a processional, she stayed for at least five hours and visited with the locals and ate buffalo.

Yes. She was there for a job, but she also enjoyed her time here or at least by looking at the photos took of her that day I think she did.

With Clinton, I just felt as though we were just another stop on the campaign trail to mark off of his list. There was no getting to know anyone or hanging out at a local barbecue. It was get in, shake hands, smile for photos and get out. I think that’s what made the difference to me.

I guess this is how politics have changed over the years and I’m glad I stumbled upon this great historical event. To me, this is a story long forgotten that was amazing and that’s why I decided to write about it this year.

 

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